Radeon HD 7970 Game Requirement Analysis
Overview
Radeon HD 7970 is a High-End Graphics Card based on the Graphics Core Next (GCN) Architecture.
Architecture
The GCN Architecture succeeds the 40nm Terascale Architecture. In addition to being produced with a 28nm Technology, the GCN Architecture adds other Technologies that allow for energy efficiency. For example, ZeroCore Power, a long idle power saving technology, allows the Graphics Cards to shut down by itself when the Monitor is turned off.
GCN also adds Improved Anisotropic Filtering, DirectX 11 Tessellation and the Partially Resident Textures (PRT) Technology, which enables future games to utilize ultra-high resolution textures with the same performance as today's small and often repetitive textures.
GPU
It equips a GPU Codenamed Tahiti XT which has 32 Compute Units activated and thus offers 2048 Shader Processing Units, 128 TMUs and 32 ROPs. The Central Unit is clocked at 925MHz.
Memory
The GPU accesses a 3GB frame buffer of fast GDDR5, through a 384-bit memory interface. The size of the frame buffer is exaggerated and in no way benefits the GPU. The Memory Clock Operates at 1375MHz.
Power Consumption
With a rated board TDP of 275W, it requires at least a 600W PSU with one available 6-pin and one available 8-pin connectors.
Performance
Radeon HD 7950 used to compete with GeForce GTX 680 but its performance was even behind the lower positioned GeForce GTX 670 and was later replaced by a faster Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition.
System Suggestions
Radeon HD 7970 is best suited for resolutions up to and including 1920x1080. We recommend a Strong Processor (Intel Core i5 Quad Core/AMD FX Six Core) and 8GB of RAM for Optimal Performance.